EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATIONEGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

IntroductionIntroduction• History covers a period between 3100 BP to 322• Egypt means- Gift of the Nile• Civilization based on the Nile River (Greek –

Nelios)- River Valley • Upper Egypt (Nile Valley) occupied settled people

between 3100- 1000BCE• 1250 BCE Lower Egypt (Nubia) & upper Egypt

were rearing & grinding wild grains• Between 510 – 400 BCE -Sheep, goats, pigs &

cereals

The Nile SettlementThe Nile Settlement• Upper Egypt (Nile Valley) occupied settled people

between 3100- 1000BCE• Settlement concentrated along the Nile:

– Gave unity– Transport & communication– Source of flesh water– Filled marshes, shallow lakes & canals, papyrus

paper (writing)– Home for birds & animals

• Nile Valley towards the delta fertile triangular area at the mouth of the Nile

Factors contributing to Egyptian Factors contributing to Egyptian CivilizationCivilization

• Self sufficiency of Egypt: Egypt possessed enormous quantities of stones, which served as raw materials for:– architecture & sculpture– Clay-pottery– Gold- Jewellary & ornaments

• Geographical location- Egypt was closed to the outside:– To West of the Nile Valley- Desert (Nubian Desert)– South-Cataracts of Nile discouraged penetration – Opening-Only Mediterranean sea

Economic activities Economic activities • 1250 BCE Lower Egypt (Nubia) & upper Egypt

were rearing & grinding wild grains• Between 510 – 400 BCE agricultural practices

begun to be adopted- – Sheep, goats, pigs & cereals

• Village grew to become little towns & attracted more people e.g.. Nagada (4000-3500 BCE)– Pottery & painting developed

• Until dams built in 1950- Nile flooded yearly

Economic SystemEconomic System• Ancient Egyptians were agriculturalists

– Crops grown- wheat, barley, cotton, beans, onions, lettuces, cucumbers, dates

– Animals- sheep, goats, camels, cats and oxen• Practiced irrigation using water from the Nile by

Shadoof method – Canals & dikes were built & water was raised from

the river into canal using buckets)– Dykes- control flooding

Factors contributing to Egyptian Factors contributing to Egyptian CivilizationCivilization

• Self sufficiency of Egypt: Egypt possessed enormous quantities of stones, which served as raw materials for:– architecture & sculpture– Clay-pottery– Gold- Jewels & ornaments

• Geographical location- Egypt was closed to the outside:– To West of the Nile Valley- Desert (Nubian Desert)– South-Cataracts of Nile discouraged penetration – Opening-Only Mediterranean sea

Economic SystemEconomic System• Ancient Egyptians were agriculturalists

– Crops grown- wheat, barley, cotton, beans, onions, lettuces, cucumbers, dates

– Animals- sheep, goats, camels, cats and oxen• Practiced irrigation using water from the Nile by

Shadoof method (canals & dikes were built & water was raised from the river into canal using buckets)

Cont…….Cont…….• Other Economic Activities

– Mining– Industries- glass-making, dyeing & stone

carving– Trade- Nubia for gold, silver, copper, bronze

& iron)

Social SystemSocial System• Social structure was based on class

– The Pharaoh Pharaoh family & relatives nobles, Priests, Scribes, Soldiers, Workers, Peasants, Foreigners & Slaves

• Pharaoh– Head of state & representative of god on

earth– Owned the land, mineral, human & labour– Strong Centralized government- to ensure

that the high officials did not amass political &economic power

– Hereditary

Cont…..Cont…..• Scribes

– Highest servants of the government– Responsible for art of writing- Papyrus paper– Planning the pyramids– Inherited profession

• Foreigners- refugees or people deported –Syrians, Phoenicians, Greeks

• Slaves- – Paid taxes according to the proportion of

crops & animals

ReligionReligion

• Most religious people• Polytheists- worship of many gods (Gods represented

animals)• Examples of gods

• Osiris (god of judgment)• Osiri initially had been a good ruler and teacher of

agricultural arts and he had kept order• His success had aroused the anger of Set, a

brother, who killed him and cut him to pieces • AMun-Re (Chief god in charge of heavens)• light, life and continued stability to the state

whose earthly representative was the king

Cont……Cont……

– Horus– Anubis (god of Mummification)– Isis– Khepri- God of creation

• Believed in life after death– Embalming of the dead body (body was washed and

purified, body organs were removed and stored in a jar and then preserved with natron for 40 days)

– Believed that the body had two parts the “ Ka” & “Ba”

– The Ka was soul – Ka”, the soul that was expected to return afterwards

and enjoy material comforts on earth

• Embalming and burial patterns depended on individuals social status

• Focal point of political & religious life in Egypt was the Pharaoh who commanded wealth, resources and people

• Considered to be a falcon god, Horus in human form

• Pharaoh was a living god on earth & became one with Osiris after death

• Mediator between god and men• Power that achieved integration between human

& gods, nature & society and ensured peace & prosperity

Political System: Government & KingdomPolitical System: Government & Kingdom • Period & Dynasty Dates (BCE)• Early Dynasty(1-2) 3100 – 2700• Old Kingdom (3-6) 2700- 2200• Intermediate Pd (7-10) 2200 – 2050• Middle Kingdom (11-12) 2050 – 1800• Intermediate Pd (13-17) 1800 – 1570• New Kingdom (18-20) 1570-1085• Pd of decay & foreign 1085 - 322domination• Dynasties- families of kings• Hereditary

• Consolidation had begun as early as 4000-3500BCE• Divided into small nomes-challenge to the unity• Conflict (Valley & Delta) over the Nile and land• Hence each needed to develop a strong leadership

for protection such as a leader was to fuse the different “Nomes” or agricultural district as base

• Pharaoh was the official- King of upper and lower• Nile influenced the way of life of the Egyptian life

– Strong government was needed to control the irrigation system

• Unification- Alliance among, Pharaoh, priests and temples

• Carry out the will of god-king- Egyptians established an elaborate political system

Early DynastiesEarly Dynasties• Aha Menes (Narmer) of Thinis unified (UE)

3200• Conquered his neighbors defeated the LE• United the new region with new capital city of

Menes in UP (Modern Cairo)• 1st Dynasty – Dynasty is a ruling family

• Unification- Alliance among, Pharaoh, priests and temples

• Carry out the will of god-king- Egyptians established an elaborate political system

• Pharaoh, chief administrative officer/Vizier (chief judge, superintendent public works),

• Provincial administration- nomarchs• Scribes

• 1st & 2nd lasted for 300yrs- two dynasties helped establish a model of governance– Religion– And Social Organization– Writing was developed- Hieroglyphics– Craft and learning

• After the two dynasties, Egypt history was divided into 3 chronological segments-kingdoms

• (old, Middle and New)

Old KingdomOld Kingdom• Established by King Zoser

– Instituted royal absolute and grandiose structures– 1st pyramids were built– Power of Pharaoh was unlimited no separation

(politics & religion)- chief priest– No standing army or national militia

Old KingdomOld Kingdom• Had a premier- Imhotep who as an architect,

physician, writer and priest– Reputed to be founder of modern science– Due to this Egyptians elevated him to a godlike

status• Designed pyramids (architect)• Started using bricks• Weaved a society with no standing army and

maintain peace through avoiding quarrels hence helped maintain a cohesive theocratic state

• 4th Dynasty- Snefru (2650) was imperialistic, militaristic and extravagant

• Snefru- no royal blood and usurped power but married into royalty hence the legitimate standing

• Invaded- Syria, Nubia, and made Egypt an imperial power

• Inaugurate massive construction-gods, pyramids and fortresses of defense

• Smaller pyramids fro queen and noble members also existed

55thth & 6 & 6thth Dynasty Dynasty • Imperialistic• Madre contact with Somali coast (Punt) for

trading purposes• 6th- Egyptian kings invaded Palestine under

General UNI and dynasty came to an end after the death of Pepi II

• Characterized by chaos- declined as power and many claimants to the throne Arose (7th dynasty – 70 pharaohs in 70 days)

• Con: initially stable, progressive became imperialistic and collapsed

Reasons for collapseReasons for collapse• Shortage of money: grandiose pyramids,

fortresses and temples not correspondence to national income

• Climatic change: change in climate which led to crop failure

• Insubordination of governors who later usurped power of the central government

• Rise of local war lords who destabilized the government of Zoser which continued until 2050 when order was restored-11th dynasty

Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom ( (Golden/Classical Golden/Classical Age)Age)

• Started 11th dynasty• 12 dynasty marked the reduction of nobles through the

establishment of central government»Create alliance with middles class thereby

undercutting the power of the nobles»Alliance kept the nobility in check, laying

foundation for prosperity• Bureaucratic officials, merchants, artisans and framers

were encouraged to advance thus helping revive the economy,

• Achievements:– Developed public works e.g. extensive drainage &

irrigation projects replaced building of pyramids– Social justice and military intelligence– Democratization of religion- emphasis on moral

conduct rather than ritual based on wealth– Emphasize on good moral conduct and

opportunities open to all classes• 12th dynasty was a period of prosperity

– Followed by chaos and created an opening for foreign domination

– Nobles revolted against being reduced in status which had incapacitated them

• 1n 1750- Hyksos (rulers of foreign land) invaded Egypt from Asia – Military advantage- bow, arrows, horses and war

chariots– The division among the Egyptians made it easier for

Hyksos to conquer and put Egypt under foreign rule– Forced Egyptians to unite against foreign tyranny,

taught Egyptians new war techniques– Resistance begun in Thebes

New KingdomNew Kingdom • Period of more absolute rule, creation of

professional army• Military power formed the basis of Pharaoh rule• Ahmose I- defeated the Hyksos (enslaved them or

dead by 1560• Founded the 18th dynasty- also new kingdom• Cities of Thebes and Akhetatou became show case

for Egypt• Egyptian became imperialistic and militaristic

invaded Palestine, Syria, and Nubia and demanded tributes

New KingdomNew Kingdom • Increased trade during his era to Asia, Europe and

Africa• Politically the 18th c dynasty (New Kingdom) was

marked by rise of three rulers• Politically the 18th c dynasty (New Kingdom) was

marked by rise of three rulers

•Queen Hatshepsut•Thutmose III•Amunhotep III

• Achievements Queen Hatshepsut• She was regent of her stepson, crowned herself

Queen claming to be the son of god Amun • Ruled for two decades• Sent ships to Punt for incense • Picked wise advisers and generals to conquer land• Erected monuments and temples for god-Amun

• Succeed by stepson Thutmose III

• 18th dynasty was also marked by the cult of Aton-link to Amenhotep II and more so with his son Amenhotep IV– Built temples for god Amun – Built large monuments– Introduced the cult of Aton (Atonism)-

monotheism– Attack and destruction of the old religious

systems– Amenhotep changed his name to Akhenaton

• The 18th dynasty was followed by a period of Foreign domination- Pinki- a people originating from Napata in Sudan – Established their throne for 60 years after which

Egypt was invaded by foreigners- Romans, Greeks and Persians

• 30 AD- invaded by the Romans – Roman regarded the region as the precious

property of Rome due to its fertility – Largest trading and industrial centre

• 65 AD- Coptic Christian era • 640 AD- Islamic era • Modern Egypt- 1882 colonized by the British -

1952

ContributionContribution

• Agriculture- along the Nile Valley (5000BC)• Urbanization- started in Egypt with the agricultural

community • Making of paper-papyrus later copied by the

Greeks and the Romans, Arabs and Byzantine• Medicine\mummification (embalming of the dead)

which involved chemistry, physics and surgery• Psychology- derived form Greek word Psychic-

mind, which means the same in Egypt• Craftsmanship- back-tan of leather, clothes and

glass making• Jewellery- ornaments and beads and pearls• Feminism movement

• Bureaucracy and hierarchy• Mathematics- used for measuring huge buildings-

areas of triangles & volumes of pyramids, cylinders & hemispheres

• Astronomy- calendar divided into 4 segments of 12 months each of 30 days and each year added 5 days-

• Architecture- pyramids• Literature- hieroglyphic scripts • Religion- gave to the world a number of gods and

goddesses• Alphabets- 24 symbols each representing a single

consonant